Mar 12, 2023; Mesa, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Jackson Merrill (77) hits against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning at Hohokam Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Traded Yankees catcher is on a HR spree (and it’s not Gary Sanchez).
It’s bad enough that when the Red Sox were taunting the Yankees with nine stolen bases in a game, former Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka was among the MLB leaders in throwing out would-be thieves.
Now, when the Yankees desperately need production from behind the plate as their season implodes with 17 losses in the past 23 games, guess who’s on a power spree. Right, Higgy.
Higashioka hit his 11th homer for the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, marking a career high. He hit 10 home runs each of the past three seasons with the Yankees.
But it’s not only that he’s hitting bombs: Higashioka has hit 10 homers in his past 69 at-bats.
Higashioka, who was traded in the package for slugger Juan Soto, went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and a walk in Tuesday’s 8-3 loss to the Mariners. Higashioka’s two-run homer in the eighth cut the deficit to 7-3 for his only hit of the game.
Higashioka, playing only part time, has slashed .342/.375/.842 with six homers, 17 RBI and eight runs scored in 40 plate appearances over his last 11 games. He’ll continue to split time with Luis Campusano.
